News Archive

29 August

Overpayment FAQs
A new category has now been added to the Tax Credits Frequently Asked Questions section.

24 August

Interaction between childcare vouchers and tax credits
Updated guidance on the interaction between childcare vouchers and tax credits.

Tax Credits
Child over 16 leaving school or college?
Tell us as quickly as possible.

09 August

Tax Credit Bulletins
Tax Credit Bulletins are designed to alert advice organisations to changes to the way we deal with tax credits or to clarify points of policy or procedures.

Tax Credits Renewals - Renew now and make sure you're right on the money
Don't forget that if we have not heard from you by 31 August any payments you are receiving will stop. If you still need to provide us with information, you can renew by post or over the phone on 0845 300 3900.

July 14

WTC6 Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit (PDF 115K)
This leaflet explains how recipients of Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit may be able to receive help from other organisations. It also explains how to qualify for that help.

Child and Working Tax Credit error and fraud statistics 2003-04
In the House of Commons, on 11 July, HM Revenue & Customs announced that it is to publish its estimates of error and fraud for tax credits in 2003-04 through the random enquiry programme.

Tackling error and fraud in the Child and Working Tax Credits
In the House of Commons, on 11 July, HMRC announced that it is to publish a detailed account of what it is doing and will do to tackle error and fraud in tax credits.

29 June

Tax Credits Consultation Group
The minutes from the meeting held on the 15th March 2006 for the Tax Credits Consultation Group are now available.

06 June

Tax Credits On-line
The tax credits on-line facility ‘Do I Qualify’ is now available.

01 June

The Consolidated Tax Credit Acts and Regulations are now available. They are up to date, as at 06/04/2006. Included are:

12 April 2006

Tax Credits – Amendment of Child Tax Credit regulations preventing “double provision” of Tax Credits for children and qualifying young people
Provides an explanation of an amendment to Child Tax Credit Regulations to prevent double provision of Tax Credits.

06 April 2006

Changes from 06 April 2006
Information about the changes for both Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit that apply from 06 April 06.

08 February 2006

Treasury Press Notice (PDF 54K)
Primarolo Hails Success Of Flexible Tax Credit System

Paymaster General – Statements to Treasury Select Committee (PDF 36K)
26 October 2005 and 5 December 2005

02 December

HMRC Statement – closure of Tax Credits Portal
HMRC has closed the tax credits e-portal while it develops new checks to ensure that the system remains secure.

24 November

Civil Partnerships
Important news about the effects of the Civil Partnership Act for people claiming Working Tax Credit and / or Child Tax Credit.

7th November 2005

Working Tax Credit – transition to direct payments

At the moment, you may receive Working Tax Credit through your employer. On 4th October, we published some information (Important news if you receive Working Tax Credit payments through your employer) explaining how we would be phasing out this method of payment.

This month, you will receive a letter (Great Britain (RTF 273K), Northern Ireland (RTF 273K)). This will be issued to all claimants currently being paid WTC through their employers to inform them how this payment method will be phased out.

4th October 2005

Important news if you receive Working Tax Credit payments through your employer

At the moment, you may receive Working Tax Credit through your employer, with your pay. Between 7 November 2005 and 31 March 2006, this method of payment is being phased out. At some point between those dates, you will stop receiving Working Tax Credit payments in your pay packet and start receiving them directly from HM Revenue & Customs instead.

This change only affects the way you’re paid, not the amount. So don’t worry. You don’t need to do anything right now. Here are a few important things to remember:

  • At the moment, you don’t need to do anything
  • You will not lose money as a result of the change
  • In November, we will write to you to explain in more detail what is happening
  • Before we start making direct payments, we will send you an amended award notice showing how often we are going to pay your Working Tax Credit. This will be every four weeks, unless you have told us you would like to be paid weekly
  • We will make payment to you directly into the bank, building society or Post Office card account you have told us about. (If you have not provided us with account details or if you wish to use a different account, we will ask you to contact us)
  • Your employer will also be writing to you before 7 November with further details